Auto rack



P 1932. v c. A. DAWSON 1,853,261

' .wro mcx Filed Dec. 19. 1928 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY Patent ed 12 932 PATENT OFFICE CHARLES A. Dawson, or'ran'eo,NORTH 1mm euro mcx Application filed December 19, 1928, Serial R0.827,101.

' My invention relates to racks and more particularly to devices ofthatcharacter having a plurality of loopsfor supporting arti- "cles ofvarious shapesand sizes, and repre-. 6 sented by the strips mounted onto1let cases transversely of the automobile on the under and havingloops formedof flexible material by which toiletarticles of variousshapes and sizes may be supported. The rincipal objects .of theinvention are to ad ust the sizes 1 of the loops, and to securely latchloop forming portions of a flexible strip to a support whereby a singlerack may be adapted to receive and support different articles at varioustimes. 7 r I In a preferred form the invention com prises a relativelyrigid strip to which a flexibleand preferably elastic member is securedand retainers are mounted slidably on the strip for dividing -theflexible member into object of the invention beingto adapt the retainersto latch the loop forming portions to the support without hazard ofdamageto the flexible member, thereby increasing the serviceabilit'y,adjustability and wearmg qualities of the device. 7

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the front portion of an automobile and arack embodymg my invention mounted on the under surface of the roofabove the drivers position.

, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end ofv and a screw operableagainst the bearing member for latching the flexible member to 5 thesupport.

loop-forming sections; a further particular Fig. 4 is adetailedperspective view of a Referring in detail to the drawings: 1 designatesgenerally the front end of an automobile and 2 the roof thereof. 3designates a relatively'rigid strip formed preferably of metal andadapted to be mounted surface of the roof above the driversposition, andattached securely thereto by retain.- ing means such as screws 4 mountedin the ends of the strip. a

The support is provided with longitudinal edge flanges 5 preferablyformed -by bending the edges of a strip having equal thicknessthroughout its length, whereby a channel 6 is produced. 1 Q

A flexible and preferably elastic member 7 is attached to the supportpreferably by positioning the flexible member in the channel 6 andsecuring .it to the support ,by the screws 4 which secure the support tothe roof I of the automobile. The screws are mounted adJacent theopposite ends ofs the supportand t the structure provides for thespacing of the flanges from the surface of the roof, the unobstructedextension of the flexible member f along, thesupport and in thechanneLaand for'the-service of the screws as stop mem-' bers, aspresently disclosed. a v

slidable along the strip comprising the support, are'retainers 8comprising clip-like, members havinghooks 9 -on opposite ends extendingunder the'flanges whereby the retainers support the flexible member inloose engagement with the strip, intermediate portions of the flexiblemember-being available between the retainers for flexing to receivearticles tobe supported by the rack I prefer to provide an elasticretainer which in normal position lies snugly in the channel and whichma be stretched between adjacent retainers to orm a loop to receive oneof thearticles; and I further provide thumb screws 10 mounted inscrew-threaded openings 11 of the retainers and adapted to bear againstthe flexible member and to latch Q the flexible member to the strip. Apair of retainersmay 'be' spaced suitably for form'- ing a loop, andad1acent-thumb screws may latch'theflexible member to the stri on eachside of the loop to restrain the flexi le mem- Pi serve as stop'membersto prevent the retainers her, whereby other portions may be formed asdesired into other loops.

I further provide bearing plates 12 having flan es 13 engaging the sidesof the retamers or mounting thereon between the bodies of the retainersand the supporting strip and slidable on the exposed surface oftheflexible member, so that a screw 10 may bear against the plates andurge the same against the flexible member and the strip to latch theloop forming portions of the flexible member. The screw therefore neednot bear directly against the flexible member.

The bearing plates 12 preferably have length equal to the width of thechannel so that the'ends of the retainers are freely slidable over theflanges of the strip and the plates are substantially free from directcontact with the supporting strip and are guided. by the edges of thechannel when the retainers are -moved along the strip. The mount- 'ingthus facilitates the placement of the retainers while avoiding thehazard of excessive frictional engagement of the bearing plates with thestrip when the retainers are retainer, and means operating against theplate for latching the flexible member to the strip.

2. A rack comprising a relatively rigid strip having a longitudinalchannel, an elastic member having ends secured to the strip, and normallextending in the channel, retainers slida le on the strip, bearingmembers engaged with the retainers and guided in said channel, and meanssupported by-the retainers for urging said bearing members against theelastic member to latch the same to the strip. a r

3. In a rack of the character described including a strip having alongitudinal, channeled portion and offset edge flanges, an elasticmember normally lying in said channel, retainers slidable on the striphaving hooks enga 'ng said flanges, bearing plates guided in sai channeladjacent said elastic member and having side flanges engaging theretainers, and means on the retainers for urging said bearing platesagainst the elastic member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. CHARLES A. DAWSON.

adjusted, and whereby the latching of the flexible member to the stripis assured when the screws are operated.

A'device of the character described is provided of shape and dimensionssuitable for the particular position it is to occupy, and isparticularly adapted for mounting as illustrated in an automobile forsuspending various articles which a motorist may desire to have easilyavailable. The uses include the. support of small items such as apackage of chewing gum, a pencil, a package of cigaretts, small boxes,and larger containers, and

" the retainers are moved to such positions that they will space offsuitableportions of the elastic member, and support the particulararticles, and the screws may fix the bearing plates against the flexiblemember to latch the loo portions to the support.

(gther retainers may be loosely engaged with the strip and be thusavailable for form'- ing other loops at any position along the strip.The fixing of the loop portions by the retainers limits the stretchingof the V, flexible member when receiving an article,

and when other portions are flexed and stretched, the stretching is nottransmitted through or to the latched loop portions.

The heads of the strip-attaching screws frompassing away from thesupport.

j What I\claim and desire to secure by Letmounted longitudinally of thestrip and having ends fixed to the strip, a retainer slidabl supportedby the strip, a bearing plate sli able in said channel and engaged withthe

